Report: U.S. abortions are safer when not restricted by state laws

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine reveals that abortions in the U.S. are safe, but "state laws and regulations can interfere," NPR reports. Co-chair of the committee who authored the report, Ned Calonge, said that 90% of abortions take place "in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy," and complications are "rare."

Why it matters: Different states have different regulations, which the report says can "create barriers to safe and effective care." For example, NPR reports that 27 states require a 24-hour waiting period to have an abortion, but CEO of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists told NPR that delays "can actually worsen the safety" of the woman.